Electronic deep hole condition analyser



Oct. 17, 1961 J. s. MURPHEY ELECTRONIC DEEP HOLE CONDITION ANALYSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1956 INVENTOR. W M

' Ja s ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1961 J. 5. MURPHEY 3,004,613

ELECTRONIC DEEP HOLE CONDITION ANALYSER Filed May 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a .r 53% N J R 0 4; J lVlo ww wflw EMA T a 4 ill .mmf 0 J y 7 195 j j {I Q a w W O 71 L w HQ Q. 5 W a 7 A 6 4 8 7 02 x a 3 ml? 8 s w W 3. 8 W W u x k m u w m X W 4 3 Y Oct. 17, 1961 J. s. MURPHEY 3,004,613

ELECTRONIC DEEP HOLE CONDITION ANALYSER Filed May 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 79 7 v mwjjaw/ fa/pie f .mw @E HIC" i ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1961 J. s. MURPHEY 3,004,613

ELECTRONIC DEEP HOLE CONDITION ANALYSER Filed May 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Okla.

Filed May 17, 1956, Ser. No. 585,450 3 Claims. (Cl. 175-45) This invention relates to a well logging or analysing System.

The object of the invention is ,to provide a method of and apparatus for analysing subsurface conditions in Wells or bore holes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well analysing system which will permit a determination to be readily made of the various conditions in a well such as the deviation from the vertical or the drill stem, as well as the pressure and temperature at the bottom of the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well analysing system which incorporates or utilizes a combination of electronic and mechanical parts to permit conditions of a sub-surface well or bore hole to be readily ascertained by persons above the ground.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a well analysing system which includes means for ascertaining or determining when the drill stem deviates from a vertical position, there being centrifugally operated governor mechanisms for disconnecting the mechanisms when the drill stall is rotated so that power will be conserved.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electronic deep hole condition analyser which includes a novel means for transmitting the signal or signals to the surface, the drill stem including an independent section which contains the information gathering and transmitting mechanism, the present invention using a novel type of signal to be transmitted to the surface.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electronic deep hole condition analyser' wherein the information gathering mechanism is an integral part of the drill stem, and whereby data can be obtained and recorded at any time without the necessity of removing the drill stern, it being only necessary for the operator to stop the rotation of the drill stem to obtain a reading and record, the drill stem being used to transmit the information desired to the surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Well analysing system or mechanism which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the Same FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the present invention operating in a well or bore hole, and showing certain of the electrical components schematically.

FIGURE 2 isa vertical sectional view taken through the transmitting sections on the lower end of the drill stem.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line-3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the lineS-S of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the plumb and showing the governor arrangement associated therewith.

3,004,613 Patented Oct. 17, 1961 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the anvil as well as the actuating coil and magnet.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating the ampliiier circuit which is arranged above the ground.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view illustrating the wiring diagram for connecting the plumb to the coil.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates in FIGURE 1, a portion of a well or bore hole which may have a casing 11 extending downwardly therethrough, and the numeral 12 designates a drill stem which may have a transmitting section 13 on its lower end. Arranged below the transmitting section 13 is a drill bit 14. Positioned above the ground level 18 is a drill rig 15 which includes a horizontally disposed platform 16 that may be supported on vertically disposed spaced parallel legs 17.

A pick-up unit 19 may be connected to the upper end of the drill stem 12, and the pick-up unit 19 is electrically connected to an amplifier filter 20. A plumb indicator 21, a temperature indicator 22 and a pressure indicator 23 may be connected to the amplifier filter 20.

The transmittting section 13 includes a hollow cylindrical housing 24 which is provided with an upper interiorly threaded portion 25 that threadedly engages a reduced diameter portion 27, the reduced diameter portion 27 depends from the bottom of the drill stem 12. The portion 27 may be provided with a threaded section 26 for engagement with the threaded portion 25 on the housing 24.

Depending from the reduced diameter portion 27 is a body member 28 which is provided with a central passageway 29 for the passage therethrough of fluid such as fluid or other medium which removes the cuttings from the well.

There is further provided a securing element 30 which is adjustably or threadably connected to a socket 31 in the portion 27, FIGURE 2. The securing element 30 includes an enlarged head 32 on its lower end fora purpose to be later described. The body member 28 in the transmitting section 13 is provided with a plurality of compartments and one of these compartments is indicated by the numeral 34. A permanent magnet 33 is secured or seated in the compartment 34, and a core" 35 extends upwardly from the magnet 33. A movable coil 36 surrounds the core 35. Connected to the movable coil 36 is an anvil 37 which carries an adjustable' securing element 58, and the securing element 38 is mounted for movement into and out of contact or engagement with the head 32 on the securing element 39. Yieldable diaphragms 39 and 40 which may be made of any suitable material such as rubber, metal or synthetics, are provided for normally urging the securing "element 38 out of engagement with the head 32, FIGURE 7.

Arranged in another compartment 41 in the transmitting section 13 is a plumb assembly which is shown in detail in FIGURE 6. Thus, arranged in a compartment 41 ofthe body member 28 is a hollow sleeve 42. A bracket 43 is connected to the upper portion of the sleeve 42, and the bracket 43 includes a web 44 which has a pointed lug or finger 45 extending upwardly therefrom. The lug 45 engages a recess 48 in the lower portion of a clamp 47, and the clamp 47 may be secured to the upper end of a conical plumb body 46 The plumb body 46 is provided with a longitudinall} e'xtendingbore 5i, and a rod 52 is moi/ably mounted it the bore'51. The rod 52 has a ball 53' on its lower end for engagement with the contacts or terminals 50 I which are mounted in an insulated plate 49, and the plate 49 is secured within the lower end of the sleeve 42.

A governor arrangement is associated with the plumb mechanism of FIGURE 6, and this governor arrangement includes ball members 54 which are mounted on the upper ends of links 55, the links 55 being pivotally connected to the supporting structure through the medium of pivot pins 56. Portions of the links 55 engage a collar 57 which is secured to the rod 52, and a coil spring 58 is circumposed on the rod 52 and abuts a collar 59 which is also secured to the rod 52.

Referring again to FIGURE 9 of the drawing, there is shown the amplifier circuit which may include tubes 60, 61, 62 and 63. Tubes 64 and 65 may form part of a power source for supplying energy to the amplifier, and the numeral 66 designates the tube heater.

Referring to FIGURE 10, of the drawings, there is shown schematically the wiring arrangement for actuating the coil 36 as the plump body 46 moves. Thus, in FIG- URE 10, the numeral 67 designates a suitable source of electrical energy such as a battery, while the numerals 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78 designate transistors. Wires or conductors 79 may lead from the transistors to the contacts 50 which are engaged by the ball 53. Oscillating coils 80 may be connected to each of the transistors 68 through 78, and an output line 81 may lead from the oscillating coils 80 to a transistor circuit 82 which serves as an amplifier. The transistor circuit 82 shown in FIGURE 10 may include a coupling transformer 83 and a matching transformer 84, and the numeral 85 may designate the amplifier battery.

Compartments 86 and 87 may be provided in the body member 28, and the compartment 86 may serve to hold a suitable mechanism for indicating the pressure in the well. The compartment 87 may hold a mechanism for recording the temperature in the well. Other compartments 88,, 89, 90 and 91 may be arranged in the body member 28 as shown in FIGURE and in FIGURE 2. The compartment 88 may hold a portion of the amplifier and the compartment 89 may also serve as a receptacle for portions of the amplifier. The compartments 90 and 91 may serve as receptacles for the selective frequency oscillators.

Other compartments 92, 93 and 94 may be provided in the member 28, and the. compartments 92 and 93 and 94 may receive batteries or the like therein, there being partitions 95. separating the compartments 92, 93 and 94 from the compartments 90, 91 and 89.

The body member 28 is further provided with a compartment or chamber 96 which has a base 97 secured therein, and a switch 98 is secured to the base 97 in any suitable manner, FIGURE 2. A movable contact 99 extends outwardly from the switch 98, and the contact 99 is engaged by a pivotally mounted contact 100 which bears against a bar 101. The bar 101 is adapted to swing outwardly due to centrifugal force when the drill stem 1'0- tates, and the bar 101 is pivotally connected to a supporting structure 102 through the medium of a pivot pin 103. A pin 104 extends through a portion of the bar 101 and a coil spring 105 is mounted on the pin 104 for normally urging the bar 101 to its inward position. Secured to the upper portion of the bar 101 is a pair of spaced apart lugs 106 and 107 which receive therebetween an end of a link 108, and a lever 109 is pivotally connected to the link 108 through the medium of a suitable pivot pin P. An end of the member 109 engages teeth 110 which are arranged on a rotary cam or wheel 111, and the wheel 111 is mounted on a shaft 112 which extends from a conventional timer motor 113. A contact 114 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a contact 115 for selectively opening and closing the circuit.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an apparatus for analysing conditions in wells such as the well or bore hole 10. In use, the transmitting section 13 is arranged on the lower end of the drill stem 12, and the drill bit 14 is positioned below the transmitting section 13. The drill stem 12 may be rotated in any conventional manner so .as to cause the drill bit 14 to penetrate-the earth. As previously described the present invention utilizes a combination of electronic and mechanical features which permit the conditions within the bottom of the'well to be ascertained above the surface of the ground, as for example on the meters or indicators 21, 22 and 23. The pick-upunit is arranged contiguous to the top of the drill stem 12. Thus, as an example, the present invention insures that the drilling will be effected in a vertical direction and will not deviate, and it is noted that there is provided the movable plumb body 46 which is shown in detail in FIGURE 6. The plumb body 46 includes the pointed member 45 which engages the clamp 47 and this construction permits the body 46 to swing in the event that the drill stem is proceeding in a direction which is not a true vertical direction. Thus, in the event that the drill stem deviates in a'vertical direction, the plumb body 46 will move and the amount of this movement will be determined by the amount of deviation from the vertical of the drill stem. As the plumb body 46 moves, it carries the rod 52 and ball 53 into engagement with various of the contacts 50 and as the ball 53 engages the contacts 50, a circuit will be completed through the wires 79 to the transistors 68 through 78. That is, de pending upon the position of the ball 53 with respect to the contacts'50, one of the transistors 68, 69 or the like will be energized and similarly a corresponding oscillating coil will be energized. The output from the oscillating coil 80 will pass through the output line 81 and enter the transistor circuit 82. From the circuit 82, the electrical energy will pass through the coil 36 to move the coil 36 relative to the stationary magnet 33. As the coil 36 moves, it moves the anvil 37 so that the securing element 38 will engage the head 32 and the securing element 30. There will be repeated engagement between the securing element 38 and head 32 so as to set up vibrations which are transmitted through the drill stem 12 to the pick-up unit 19. From the pick-up unit 19, the impulses pass through the amplifier shown in FIGURE 9 and are recorded on the indicating meter 21. Thus, the meter 21 can be calibrated to indicate the amount of deviation of the drill stem so that corrected action can be taken to properly position the drill stem to insure a true vertical drilling action.

The present invention further includes a means for interrupting the electrical circuit when the drill stem is rotating or operating. Thus, if the recording meters were maintained connected during rotation of the drill stem, the vibration from the rotating drill stem would render any readings obtained faulty so that there is provided in the present invention a mechanism for interrupting the circuit to the meters except when the drill stem is sta tionary. This circuit interrupting mechanism includes several arrangements. One of these arrangements or features is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein the centrifugally operating balls 54 swing outward when the drill stem is rotating and thereby raise the collar 57 and this moves the rod 52 upwardly to thereby lift the ball 53 out of engagement with the contacts 50 so that the circuit will not be completed while the drill stem is rotating. Then, when rotation of the drill stem ceases or stops, the spring 58 will move the rod 52 to its downward position to cause the ball 53 to engage certain of the contacts 50. There is provided a further means for interrupting the circuit during rotation of the drill stem and this means is shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 8. Thus, when the drill stem is rotating, the bar 101 moves out by centrifugal force to permit the contact to move outwardly and this opens the switch 98. Furthermore, this outward movement of the bar 101 moves the member 108 since the member 108 has a portion interposed between, the

aeogeie hlugszfllfi andv107'. Astrnember'IIOSkismoved:outwardly, iitimovesitheicont-act llkt away from/the contact 1115 :furth'era interrupt the: circuit to the recording instrument xso that no reading :willtbe obtained-during .the rotation -of the'drilltstem. Thetimermotor lldrotates the wheel 111, to-insure that when the drill -stemis stationary as i for a predetermined "period o'f tirne, as for example, for -a -five minute period, then the indicating meters may zproperly record. When the bar 101 moves inwardly and when the drill -stem stops'rotatin-g, the'switch' 98 is closed, --an'cl the 'contact qu t-engages the-contact 115: to complete the-circuit so as to permitthemecord-ings to be made when the tirillstem is not rotating.

The body member 28 i is r provided with a plurality of compartments foriprovidinga storage space forthe :vari- -ous-batteriesand =electr-icalrcomponents-and a suitable mechanism may be "arranged or provided 1 for indicating ithe "temperature and pressure at the bottom of the bore hole. r

"-In the'present invention when the 'tirill "starts rotating, "the governor 'rballs 54 and 'thegovernor bar 1-01 swing out and open thecQntacts in-the circuit and the circuitis kept open until rotation is stopped. *when'rotation is stopped,the governor-swingsinanti-starts the time clock 1 1 3 which inns untilthe cam 111* trips the timing arm 109 which -stopsthe'clock 113"and'also'shuts-oif all power to the electronic transmitting equipment.

In the present invention, the following information relative to the conditionin a boring -oan=be determined. :Deviationfrom vertical, bottom hole gpressure, tbottom .hole temperature, and direction of deviation. 'tWith the present: invention an audible or-isubaaudible signal isggen- -erated;at,the bottom of the .boringzzand detectedand recorded atthe surface of thetearth torreveahthe above information. The i nal travels'through the='drill;stem tto ,thezsurface where it is detectedaand recorded by a frequencyselective amplifier whichis. connected lOvCZLlibrated instruments. The transmitting device and power supply is located in the wall of the section 13 and the detecting and recording devices are connected to a microphone 19 which may be clamped to the drill string of pipes at the earths surface. Suitable sealing rings can be provided wherever required between the various parts. The passageway 29 provides a means whereby a fluid or other medium can pass therethrough which may be used for removing bit cuttings. The housing 24 may be made of a non-magnetic material. The diaphragms 39 and 40 return the parts of the position shown in FIGURE 2 when the coil 36 is de-energized.

In the present invention there is provided a novel means for carrying the signals to the surface and the independent section 13 contains the information gathering and transmitting mechanism. The information gathering mechanism is an integral part of the drill stem and no cable is required to lower the instrument into the well. Data can be obtained and recorded at any time without the necessity of removing the drill stem and the operator only has to stop the rotation of the drill stem to obtain a reading and record. The drill stem is used to transmit the information desired to the surface, and the information desired will be transformed into a series of frequencies to be determined by the information gathering mechanisrn.

As an example of the operation of the present inven tion, when the boring is zero degrees from vertical, the plumb body 46 is in neutral position, and a standard vibration will be transmitted which will be zero deviation reference. If the boring is .5" inclined from the vertical, then the plumb body 48 will move to engage an adjacent contact 50 which will actuate a transistor such as the transistor 68 and this will transmit a frequency tone through the drill stem to the surface. When contact is made between the ball 53 and another transistor such as the transistor 69 or 70, the signal is amplified and coupled to the anvil 37 through the coil '36 and this in turn til 6 zcausesthe tone to be tiransrnitted to the drillxstem. :This 'signal' is then: picked upby means of the microphone '19 -or= other device which -is attached :to the udrill stem R in any suitable -rnanner. The microphone then -feeds !the signal to the amplifiercounter circuit shown :in FIG- URE 9. The 1 frequency meter 21=may be calibrated in degrees so that for-Zero degrees: of i inclination i from i the vertical, the :reading would I be zero degrees, "but if i the boring is-inclined i5 from:the vertical, v then ag-toneof frequency will-be transmitted to-the counter amplifier. This same change would oarry through to all of the "various transisto-rs and oscillating coils'tothereby cause :the meter 21' to read one-halfa degree for each contact or-from one ha-lf'to' 'five degrees'fromthe vertical. It

is to' be understood 1 that the number-of parts and size and-shape of the parts can be varied as desired.

The output signal generatdlbyrthe anvil 37--causing the securing element 38 to strike the head 32'may -be an :'audio or sub-audiblefrequeney which is determined by 20 is-picke'd'up 'by the v-rnicrophone 19 and-passed to athe amplifier circuit 2 0. This audio signal is amplified plifier. The tube 63- isused as "a rectifiervwhose output determinesor 'drives'the indicating meter 21. The varying audio *frequency gives corresponding varying 'read ings on the'meter 21. The tubes- 64 :and 6'5 are partsof the power source t supply for 'the -amplifier. By =-using transistors su'ch as the transistors 168 through 78,1the

jam'ount'of power supplyzneededtwill be' reduced. JThe anovement of=thependulum .orzplumbrbody :46 produces va ispecific:.-audio: signaliforreach one-half :degree of; devi- =ation .throug themediumof the transistors-and oscillating coils.

;It. is: to be noted that when the drill .stem. stops; rotating, the bar 101 swinging inward actuates the lever which presses the pin 99 and this in turn actuates the switch 98 and closes the contacts. At the same time, the lugs 106 and 107 trip the toggle bars or members 108 and 109 which are held in contact by the spring 116, the spring 116 being connected by pins to the bars 108 and 109. Then, the contacts 114 and are closed and remain so until the cam on the timer 113 trips the toggle bars 108 and 109 which opens the contacts 114 and 115 at a predetermined time, shutting off all power supply.

When rotation stops, the plumb 46 contactor in FIG- URE 6 swings over the contact ring 50 which will indicate the degree of variation. The governor 54 releases the rod 52 which permits the ball contact 53 to come in contact with the contact ring 50 to thereby complete the circuit to the oscillator circuit and amplifier circuit in FIGURE 10 which energizes the floating coil 36, and this causes the member 37 to strike the anvil 32 with the frequency set up by the oscillator circuit contacted in FIGURE 10. The signal then travels through the drill stem where it is picked up on the surface by a microphone connected to the drill stem. The microphone is connected to the amplifier unit and from the amplifier unit to the indicating and recording instruments shown in FIGURE 9. After the timer 113 has run its set time, the cam 111 trips the toggle bars 108 and 109 to thereby open the contacts 114 and 115 thus shutting off all power until the drill stem is rotated and stopped which starts the cycle all over again. The switch 98 is of conventional construction and is actuated by the bar 101 which moves in or out due to centrifugal forces. The switch 98 is connected in the electrical circuit as shown in FIGURES 2 and 10.

In FIGURE 11 the circuit making and breaking mechanism is shown in detail and in this figure it will be seen that the link 108 is pivotally connected to the lever 109 by means of the pivot pin P. The link 108 is pivotally supported by means of a pivot pin A.

As shown in the drawings, it will be seen that upon stopping of rotation of the drill stem, the bar 101 will swing inward to actuate the lever 100 so that the pin 99 will be pressed inwardly to actuate the switch 98 and close the contacts. Simultaneously, the lugs 106 and 107 will trip the toggle bars 108 and 109 which are held in contact by the spring 116 and the contacts 114 and 115 are closed and remain closed until the cam on the timer 113 trips the toggle bars 108 and 109 to open the contacts 114 and 115 at a predetermined time so as to close off all of the power supply.

Furthermore when the timer 113 runs for the predetermined period of time that has been set or established, the cam 111 trips the toggle bars 108 and 109 which opens the contacts 114 and 115 so as to shut-off all power until the drill stem is rotated and stopped and this cycle is continuously repeated.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a drill stem, a transmitting section on the lower end of said drill stem, a drill bit on the lower end of said transmitting section, a pick-up unit connected to the upper end of said drill stem, an amplifier filter electrically connected to said pick-up unit, a pendulum type plumb arranged in said transmitting section, and an indicator operatively connected to said plumb and actuated by said plumb for recording deviations from the vertical of said plumb, said transmitting section comprising a cylindrical housing provided with an upper inner threaded portion, a reduced diameter exteriorly threaded portion depending from said drill stem and engaging the threaded portion of said housing, a body member positioned in said transmitting section, a securing element adjustably engaging the lower end of said reduced diameter portion and provided with an enlarged lower head, the outer portion of said body member being shaped to include a plurality of spaced apart compartments, a pe anent magnetpositioned in one of said compartments and having a core extending upwardly therefrom, a movable coil surrounding said core, an anvil connected to said coil and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the head on said securing element, a vertically disposed sleeve arranged in one of said compartments, an insulated plate mounted in the lower end of said sleeve and provided with a plurality of spaced apart contacts, a bracket connected to the upper portion of said sleeve and including a web having a pointed lug extending upwardly therefrom, said plumb including a conical body having a support member extending upwardlytherefrom and engaging said pointed lug, there being a central bore in said conical body, a rod movably mounted in said bore and having a ball on its lower end for engagement with said contacts, a coil spring engagingsaid rod, a governor mechanism connected to said rod, and amplifying means arranged in other of said compartments and connecting said contacts to said coil.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said body member is provided with a central passageway for the passage therethrough of fluid or other medium con taining drill cuttings.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 and further including yieldable diaphragms for normally biasing said anvil away from the head on the securing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,282,431 Smith May 12, 1942 2,380,520 Hassler July 31, 1945 2,388,141 Harrington Oct. 30, 1945 2,400,170 Silverman May 14, 1946 2,411,696 Silverman Nov. 26, 1946 2,572,025 Hamner Oct. 23, 1951 2,658,725 Arps Nov. 10, 1953 2,759,143 Arps Aug. 14, 1956 

